Tuesday, May 06, 2014

Pride and Other Risks of Expression

photo by mario zanariasketch and photo by juliana hornerphoto by mario zanariaphoto by mario zanariasketch and photo by juliana hornerphoto by mario zanariaphoto by mario zanariaphoto by mario zanriasketch and photo by juliana horner photo by Thomas Iannaccone for WWDphoto by mario zanariaphoto by me of Juliana's piece in Pratt Look Book

You might remember something about me leaving my daughter in New York roughly four years ago. Watching her, from a long distance vantage point, grow into an independent and immensely original artist has been something that I think I may utterly fail at describing. It is complex and beautiful and rewarding and humbling. Attending the graduating fashion show last week held all of the excitement that we anticipated. The phone calls, texts, emails, visits that we have had with her in recent months graced us with news of success and recognition by her peers and the faculty at Pratt. Being asked to be in the show alone is an honor that not every graduating senior gets. Which on the one hand feels unfair. On the other hand feels just like the fashion world. Might as well know that as soon as possible, I suppose. But imagine our huge pride at watching her collection close the show. The finale. The last looks on everyone's mind. Looks that have landed at WWD and Style.com among others (in fact I just noticed the looks of Jeff's and my face are right over the models left shoulders in the WWD slideshow, snort). If you want to see the entire show, it's right over here (her stuff begins around 57:30).
With the imagery of her collection still fresh in my mind, the single greatest joy for me is to have seen her and her work in the context of her peers and find it to be so completely unaffected by her environment or the work of others. Watching the models float across the runway in her inventive, watercolor-y yet intensely engineered pieces still has me feeling as though I am swimming through her sketchbook. The seemingly effortless translation of concept to final piece was fluid and graceful and utterly deceptive in hiding the hours and hours (and hours) each of the pieces took. She sent her hands and heart down the walk. It was a risk. A huge risk to insist on your work being entirely from within and nothing else.
Her collection is titled Containment and here are a few of her own words:"As humans we have a natural tendency to contain things. It gives us a sense of control, whether that control is real or not. I wanted to play with this idea in the garments, both containing the body and elements within the fabrications themselves."
My only regret from the event is that she was backstage during her parade of work and could not see or feel how the energy in the room changed entirely as her pieces poured into the crowd of onlookers. I have of course relentlessly described this to her ever since.
Congratulations to my beautiful, amazing girl. My own greatest risk.
This is just the beginning.xoxo

38 comments:

I rarely comment and am not a mother...sometimes I'm not sure if I will be. This post and your closing brought out those brief yet piercing little sharp tears to my eyes. It's a joy to see how such beauty and talent can be shared within a family, how it grows and changes and expresses itself in such individual ways. How it is nurtured and blooms. Thanks for sharing it with us and congrats to you both! :)

I've heard it said that life comes in cycles, and this seems like a return for you to a familiar time and place but with different perspective. I love that your life has produced so much creative beauty not only in the tangibles, within and through your children. Congratulations to Julianna- your work is so provoking. I love seeing how your sketches became reality. Congratulations to Anna and Jeff- you have every reason to be proud!

I was completely captivated my these photo's. Abstract fashion usually irritate me, but when your post came up in my feed I couldn't help but scroll down and read your post. Beautiful. You get a really strong sense of the containment she describes. Congratulations to a the proud mother!

Oh, congratulations to Juliana and you all Anna Maria! What a wonderful accomplishment! How wonderful it is as mothers to be able to sit back and watch with such pride and excitement as our greatest accomplishments achieve some of theirs!

The sneak peek you showed me did not do this justice. It is gorgeous! And what a huge accomplishment! Congratulations to Juliana! I know that your heart is bursting, as it well should be. She has amazing talent - must get it from her mom. I can't wait to see what she does next. I have no doubt it will be spectacular.

I remember experiencing the same feelings and emotions when our oldest son's collection was shown when he was a student. Not Pratt, but we were still incredibly proud. Congrats to your daughter, her collection is amazing!

Juliana's work is absolutely stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love it and plan to include it in my next "color + pattern" post for Contemporary Cloth.Again, I LOVE EVERY PIECE..........AMAZING.Thank you for making my day,Sondra XXX

choking on my tears on your last lines... as a proud mama...and what a creation/creator she has become.. lovetoyour juliana..and all your littles and yous!! xooxxo thankyou for the continued inspirations and heart.sharing of your artistic.living with all of us.. xoxox

Wow! Congratulations Juliana (and, in a way, Happy Mother's Day to you)! What a wonderful thing to see your child doing so well. My favorite piece was the one she walked out with (the one on style.com). That must have been so much work, but it DID look effortless and so professional. What an honor for her and how proud you all must be.

Okay, I really don't understand how you contain yourself, as a mother, a designer, and a woman of such expression. This is NOT your mother's design! She is separate and distinct from you but yet I can see your influence as well as your willingness to allow her to express her own views. Pride doesn't even cover it. I only saw her fabric a couple of weeks ago but I'm so impressed with her artistic expression.

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